::::::::»v TWO BIRD-LOVERS IN MEXICO B^---: 



leagues of maguey — enough of the latter, one would 

 think, to provide the whole world with delirium tre- 

 mens. Birds became much more numerous. Cowbirds, 

 in dense, compact flocks of a thousand or more, rose 

 and whirled away in unison, and almost every good- 

 sized tree had a Shrike perched on the topmost branch. 

 The line of Sparrow Hawks on the telegraph wires was 

 unbroken, about one to every eighth pole. They 

 showed not the slightest fear of the passing train, and 

 left their perch only when some large insect or small 

 bird rose near Ijy. Twice we saw them attack Cow- 

 birds almost as large as themselves, the two falling, 

 fiercelv strusfirlinii', to the oTountl. We were told by 

 au engineer who was an accurate observer of l)irds 

 that occasionally these valiant little hawks were over- 

 come l)y birds of greater strength than themselves, 

 whicli tliey liad fearlessly attacked. 



Tlie momentary glimpse of some small ponds showed 

 a vast assendjlage of ducks and wading birds and made 

 us impatient for our journey's end. We found the 

 Mexicans more and more interesting, and each little 

 station offered something new. Blind musicians, who 

 twanaed ouitars struu"; with eii>hteen strings, and 

 chanted Paloma and other odd-timed Mexican or 

 Spanish songs, were led beneath the windows. We 

 were astonished to hear them all join at the end in 

 screamina' the melody of '^ After the Ball is Over," 

 and we wondered how that time-worn tune could have 



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